James w



(No Model.)

J. W. JONES.

BILGE WATER ALARM.

No. 427,873. Patented May 13,1890.

WITNESSES IIVVE/VTOH:

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMEs w. JONES, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

BlLGE-WATER ALARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 427,873, dated May 13,1890.

Application filed May 1, 1889. Serial No. 309,157. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES \VALTER J ONES, (known as Commercial J ones,)of the city, county, and State of New York, have in vented a new andImproved Bilgeater Alarm, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

The object of my present invention is to provide an attachment forvessels whereby when the bilge-water rises above a certain point orlimit an alarm will be sounded; and to the end named the inventionconsists, essentially, of a float provided with an electricalcontact-point, an electrical signaling apparatus, and a fixedcontact-point, againstwhich the float contact-point bears when the waterrises above a certain predetermined height.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar figures and letters of referenceindicate corresponding parts in both views;

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a vessel, representing the same asit appears when provided with my bilge-water alarm, and Fig. 2 is aplanview of the float and its connections.

In constructing an apparatus such as the one forming the subject-matterof this application I provide a bottomless box-like structure 10, whichis preferably formed with lugs 11, having threaded apertures that areengaged by adj usting-screws 12, said screws bein g mounted to turn inbed-plates 13. ithin the box 10, I mount a float 20, which is connectedto one side of the box by a hinge 21, such hinge being preferably madefrom some textile fabric which will not corrode or harden under theaction of the water. The float 20 carries an electrical contact-point22, to which there is led a wire a, that is in turn connected with anelectric signaling-bell 30, and upon the box 10 is secured a secondcontact-point 22, which is in communication with a wire I), that alsoleads to the signal-b01130, a battery being interposed at any properpoint, as at &0.

From the construction above described it will be seen that when thewater rises above a certain predetermined limit the float 20,

which may be of cork or any other proper material, or which may be ahollow vessel, will be carried upward, and its contact-point 22 willbear against the fixedcontact-pmint 22, thus closing the circuit andcausing the sounding of an alarm.

The advantage of providing for the automatic indication of the rise ofthe bilge-water above a certain predetermined point will be apparent toall who have had experience with vessels, preventing catastrophes whichmight otherwise occur, due to unsuspected leaks.

The special advantages of the above-described construction are that,regardless of the careening of the vessel, the float, by reason of beinghinged at one side, is capable of motion on its hinge only and cannotbind, and this is a valuable feature of the invention, as in apparatusof this class those floats that are capable of other movement than inthe direction of the fixed contacts afford no assurance that they. willoperate when the vessel at its dock being loaded carcens,

Again, my float is absolutely free from friction, so that a furthersafeguard against its binding is provided; also, the non-metallic hingeis unaffected by corrosion, and will therefore operate even after longdisuse.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. In a bilge-water alarm, the combination, with afixed contact-point, to which one end of a normally-open circuit leads,of a float hinged to its support by an insulation-hinge, and carryingconnections for completing the electric circuit by contact with thefixed contact-point upon the rising of the float, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a bilge-water alarm,the combination, with suitable support havinga fixed contactpoint, of a float held to said support by aninsulating-connection and carrying a contactpoint for completing thecircuit when contacting with the fixed point, substantially asdescribed.

JAMES W. JONES. Witnesses:

EDWARD KENT, J12, C. SEnewIcK.

